Columbus, OH – On Thursday, The Buckeye Institute filed an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Speech First v. Whitten and find that Indiana University’s bias incidents policy violates students’ First Amendment rights.

“Civility and inclusion are laudable goals and, undeniably, an important component of a college education,” said Jay R. Carson, senior litigator at The Buckeye Institute. “But when the policies used to pursue those goals chill free speech and violate the U.S. Constitution, those policies cannot be allowed to stand.”

In its brief, The Buckeye Institute argued that bias response teams chill free speech, undermine free debate and open inquiry, and violate the U.S. Constitution. Three separate federal circuit courts agreed with Buckeye’s arguments. They found bias response teams—which typically include the dean of students, campus police, and other officials empowered to make disciplinary decisions—violated students’ First Amendment rights, making the issue ripe for Supreme Court review.

Speech First—a national organization that champions free speech—challenged Indiana University’s bias incidents policy.

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